Philippine expressway network | |
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System information | |
Maintained by private companies under concession from the Department of Public Works and Highways | |
Length | 626 km [1] (389 mi) |
Formed | 1968 |
Highway names | |
Expressways | Ex |
System links | |
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The Philippine expressway network, also known as the High Standard Highway Network, is a controlled-access highway network managed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which consists of all expressways and regional high standard highways in the Philippines. [2]
High standard highways are defined as highways which provide a high level of traffic services by assuring high speed mobility and safe travel in order to vitally support socio-economic activities for sound socio-economic development of strategic regions and the country as a whole. [2] In the Philippines, controlled-access highways are known as expressways. They are multi-lane divided toll roads which are privately maintained under concession from the government. The regional high standard highways are partial controlled-access highways that function as supplementary to expressways. [2]
The Philippine expressway network spanned 420 kilometers (260 mi) in length in 2015 and was extended to 626 kilometers (389 mi) in 2020, and is to be extended to 995 kilometers (618 mi) beyond 2030 according to the master plan submitted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in 2010. [1]
The Philippine highway network spans over 32,000 kilometers (20,000 mi) across all regions of the Philippines. These highways, however, are mostly single and dual carriageways with many U-turn lanes and intersections slowing down traffic. Coupled with the increase in the number of vehicles and the demand for limited-access highways, the Philippine government requested the government of Japan to conduct a master plan for the development of a high standard highway network in 2009 under the Philippine Medium-Term Public Investment Plan (2005–2010). [2] The plan calls for the promotion of national integrity by strengthening the Philippine Nautical Highway System linking roads and ferries, the decongestion of traffic in Metro Manila, and the improvement of accessibility to main tourist spots, among others. [2]
The Philippine expressway network master plan covers the development of high standard highways surrounding Metro Manila in Luzon, Metro Cebu in the Visayas, and the Metro Davao–General Santos area in Mindanao. [2]
The establishment of limited-access highways or expressways are provided and defined by Republic Act No. 2000 or the Limited Access Highway Act, signed on June 22, 1957. Through the act, the Department of Public Works and Highways is authorized to designate new or existing roads as limited-access highways and to regulate points of entry along these limited-access highways. [3]
Traffic laws on expressways are defined by the Limited Access Highway Act and Department of Public Works and Communications (DPWC) Administrative Order No. 1 series of 1968. [3] [4]
Standard traffic laws on all expressways based on the above laws include:
While traveling along the expressway, vehicles are prohibited from:
The following conveyances are prohibited on all expressways in the Philippines:
High standard highways in the Philippines are classified into two types: the arterial high standard highways or expressways, and regional high standard highways. [2]
Arterial high standards highways (HSH-1) in the Philippines are known as expressways. They are highways with controlled-access, normally with interchanges and may include facilities for levying tolls for passage in an open or closed system. [7] Standard features of Philippine expressways include guard rails, rumble strips, signs and pavement markings, solid wall fence, speed radars, toll plaza, closed-circuit television and rest and service areas. The speed limit is 100 km/h (62 mph) for cars and jeepneys, 80 km/h (50 mph) for trucks and buses, and 60 km/h (37 mph) is the minimum for all classes of vehicles.
The first expressways in the Philippines are the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), both of which were built in the late 1960s. [8] The first elevated toll road in the Philippines is the Skyway, with its construction consisting of numerous sections called "stages". Its latest section, Stage 3, was completed in 2021. [9] The Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway, from Santo Tomas to Lipa in Batangas was opened in 2001 and was extended in 2008. The Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the longest tollway in the Philippines was opened in 2008, setting the stage for the development of the Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX), which would extend beyond the SCTEX' northern terminus in Tarlac City. The TPLEX was opened in 2013. The Cavite–Laguna Expressway (CALAX), another expressway in Southern Luzon, was partially opened on October 30, 2019. [10] The Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) was partially opened on July 15, 2021. [11]
There are many under construction and proposed expressways in the Philippines. All the expressways in the Philippines are privately maintained under concession agreements either with the Department of Public Works and Highways or the Toll Regulatory Board through build–operate–transfer (BOT) arrangements. At present, there are 15 expressways in the Philippines that connect Metro Manila to northern and southern Luzon and 1 expressway in Metro Cebu.
Regional high standard highways in the Philippines are multi-lane arterial roads with bypass, grade separation and/or frontage road. They connect the expressways and are mostly partial controlled-access highways. [2] Their design speed is 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) for inter-urban regional highways and 60 kilometers per hour (37 mph) for intra-urban highways. [2]
Under the implementation of a route numbering system commissioned by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on 2014, expressways are signed with yellow pentagonal signs with black numerals. They are prefixed with the letter "E" for "Expressway" to distinguish them from national highways. Expressways numbers are assigned sequentially and continuously. [7]
The Philippine expressway network is currently consisting of six discontinuous network of expressways, all of which are located in the island of Luzon. [12] [13]
Image | From | To | Length | Toll roads | Areas served | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tarlac City | San Jose, Nueva Ecija | 66.4 km (41.3 mi) | Central Luzon Link Expressway | Tarlac, Nueva Ecija | Partially operational (Tarlac City to Aliaga) | |
Cebu City | Cordova | 8.9 km (5.5 mi) | Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway | Cebu City, Cordova | Longest bridge in the Philippines, first expressway in Visayas | |
Caloocan | Manila | 7.7 km (4.8 mi) | NLEX Connector | Western Metro Manila | Operational (Caloocan to Magsaysay Boulevard); under construction (Magsaysay Boulevard to Santa Mesa) |
Most of the expressways implement tolls, usually of the closed road and barrier toll systems. On expressways roads using closed road tolling, motorists first get a card or ticket at the entry point and surrender them upon exit. On expressways implementing barrier tolling, toll collection is done at toll plazas on a fixed rate. Some expressways employ a hybrid system that includes both, like the North Luzon Expressway, which uses both barrier ("open system") and closed road tolling.
Electronic toll collection (ETC) is first implemented on the Skyway and South Luzon Expressway, using transponder technology branded E-Pass. ETC systems are implemented by some toll road operators, with inter-running support on other connected expressways. Toll plazas or toll gates have ETC lanes on the leftmost lanes or on "mixed" lanes, that allow cash collection, or both. Latest ETC systems use radio frequency identification (RFID) technology over transponder technology for collection. Having different ETC systems that are not supported on other roads, a plan for a unified ETC system is promoted for motorists' convenience. Cashless toll collections on all expressways are on a dry run since 2023, aiming for full implementation in 2024. [14]
As of June 2024 [update] , the toll rates by expressway are as follows:
Name | Class 1 (Cars, Motorcycles, SUVs, Jeepneys) | Class 2 (Buses, Light Trucks) | Class 3 (Heavy Trucks) |
---|---|---|---|
Cavite–Laguna Expressway | ₱4.656/km | ₱9.368/km | ₱14.023/km |
CAVITEX–C-5 Link | ₱35.00 | ₱69.00 | ₱104.00 |
Manila–Cavite Expressway | ₱8.00(Kabihasnan) ₱35.00(Parañaque) ₱73.00(Kawit) | ₱70.00(Parañaque) ₱146.00(Kawit) | ₱104.00(Parañaque) ₱219.00(Kawit) |
Metro Manila Skyway | ₱164.00(to & from Alabang/SLEx) ₱118.00(to & from Sucat/Dr. A. Santos Ave.) ₱72.00(to & from Bicutan/Doña Soledad) ₱105.00(Buendia to Plaza Azul/Nagtahan) ₱129.00(E. Rodriguez to NLEX Balintawak) ₱264.00(Buendia to NLEX Balintawak) | ₱329.00(to & from Alabang/SLEx) ₱237.00(to & from Sucat/Dr. A. Santos Ave.) ₱145.00(to & from Bicutan/Doña Soledad) ₱210.00(Buendia to Plaza Azul/Nagtahan) ₱258.00(E. Rodriguez to NLEX Balintawak) ₱528.00(Buendia to NLEX Balintawak) | ₱493.00(to & from Alabang/SLEx) ₱356.00(to & from Sucat/Dr. A. Santos Ave.) ₱218.00(to & from Bicutan/Doña Soledad) |
Muntinlupa–Cavite Expressway | ₱18.00 | ₱37.00 | ₱55.00 |
NAIA Expressway | ₱35.00(Short Segment) ₱45.00(Full Route) | ₱69.00(Short Segment) ₱90.00(Full Route) | ₱104.00(Short Segment) ₱134.00(Full Route) |
NLEX Connector | ₱86.00 | ₱215.00 | ₱302.00 |
North Luzon Expressway | ₱74.00[Open System (Balintawak–Marilao)] ₱4.27/km [Closed System (Bocaue–Sta.Ines)] | ₱186.00[Open System (Balintawak–Marilao)] ₱10.68/km [Closed System (Bocaue–Sta.Ines)] | ₱223.00[Open System (Balintawak–Marilao)] ₱12.81/km [Closed System (Bocaue–Sta.Ines)] |
South Luzon Expressway | ₱4.822/km | ₱9.685/km | ₱14.568/km |
STAR Tollway | ₱2.482/km | ₱4.964/km | ₱7.422/km |
Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway | ₱4.09/km | ₱6.44/km | ₱9.45/km |
Subic Freeport Expressway | ₱37.00 | ₱93.00 | ₱112.00 |
Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway | ₱3.50/km | ₱8.70/km | ₱10.50/km |
Additionally, since June 1, 2024, the Agri-Trucks Toll Rebate Program is implemented to exempt vehicles carrying agricultural products from toll increases on expressways, aiming to ease inflation on these goods. For SMC Tollways-operated expressways such as SLEX and MCX, the average rebate ranges from ₱2 to ₱30. Meanwhile, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation-operated expressways such as NLEX, SCTEX, and CAVITEX offer rebates ranging from ₱16 to ₱156. Both rates depend on the vehicle class, with the latter depending on the distance travelled as well. [15]
Three components of the expressway network or the High Standard Highway Network are the Luzon Spine Expressway Network (LSEN), the Visayas Spine Expressway Network (VSEN), and the Mindanao Spine Expressway Network (MSEN). It is a planned network of interconnected expressways within the islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It is part of the Build! Build! Build! Infrastructure Plan of DuterteNomics [16] and the Build Better More of Bongbong Marcos.[ citation needed ]
In addition to the following expressways:
New expressways will be built as well, such as:
The Asian Highway 26 ( ) passes through three expressways in the Philippines:
The South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), signed as E2 of the Philippine expressway network and R-3 of the Metro Manila arterial road network, is a controlled-access highway that connects Metro Manila to the provinces in the Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Bicol Region on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. The expressway has a length of 49.56 km, traveling from its northern terminus at the Magallanes Interchange in Makati to its southern terminus at Santo Tomas, Batangas, connecting it to the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road. A portion of the expressway from the Magallanes Interchange to the Calamba Exit is part of Asian Highway 26 of the Asian highway network. It will be the longest expressway in the Philippines starting with the completion of Toll Road 4 surpassing the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) as well as providing a gateway to Visayas upon the completion of Toll Road 5.
The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), signed as E1 of the Philippine expressway network, partially as N160 of the Philippine highway network, and partially as R-8 of the Metro Manila arterial road network, is a controlled-access highway that connects Metro Manila to the provinces of the Central Luzon region in the Philippines. The expressway, which includes the main segment and its various spurs, has a total length of 101.8 kilometers (63.3 mi) and travels from its northern terminus at Santa Ines Interchange in Mabalacat, Pampanga, to its southern terminus at Balintawak Interchange in Quezon City, which is adjacent to its connection to Skyway, an elevated toll road that connects the expressway to its counterpart in the south, the South Luzon Expressway. The segment of the expressway between Santa Rita Exit in Guiguinto and the Balintawak Interchangeis part of Asian Highway 26 of the Asian highway network. Although its name implies a connection to northern Luzon, the expressway's northern end is actually in Central Luzon.
The Manila–Cavite Expressway, signed as E3 of the Philippine expressway network and R-1 of Metro Manila's arterial road network, is a 14-kilometer-long (8.7 mi) controlled-access highway linking Manila to the southern province of Cavite in the Philippines. At its north end, it feeds into and from Roxas Boulevard in the city of Parañaque in Metro Manila, also part of R-1. At the south end, it splits into two termini, both along the north coast in Kawit, Cavite. The first feeds into the intersection of Covelandia Road, Tirona Highway and Antero Soriano Highway. The second southern terminus is an exit-only to Tirona Highway in Barangay Marulas.
The Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), commonly known as the STAR Tollway, is a two-to-four-lane 41.9-kilometer (26.0 mi) controlled-access toll expressway in the province of Batangas in the Philippines. It is operated by STAR Infrastructure Development Corporation. The expressway is signed as E2 of the Philippine expressway network, alongside the South Luzon Expressway and unspecified portions of the Skyway. The expressway starts at the interchange with the Pan-Philippine Highway and the South Luzon Expressway in Santo Tomas and runs southward, near Diversion Road, to Batangas City. It passes through the cities and municipalities of Tanauan, Malvar, Lipa, San Jose, and Ibaan.
The Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), signed as E1 and E4 of the Philippine expressway network, is a controlled-access toll expressway in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. From its northern terminus in Tarlac City to its southern terminus at Tipo in Dinalupihan, Bataan, the SCTEX serves as one of the main expressways in Luzon. The expressway is also connected to the Central Luzon Link Expressway, North Luzon Expressway, Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway, and the Subic Freeport Expressway. The SCTEX is the country's longest expressway at 93.77 kilometers (58.27 mi) until the completion of Toll Road 4 of South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). The Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway was constructed to provide a more efficient transport corridor between Subic Bay Freeport, Clark, and the Central Techno Park in Tarlac, foster development on the municipalities served, and connect major infrastructures such as the Subic Seaport and Clark International Airport.
The Metro Manila Skyway, officially the Metro Manila Skyway System (MMSS) or simply the Skyway, is an elevated highway serving as the main expressway of Metro Manila, Philippines. It connects the North and South Luzon Expressways with access to Ninoy Aquino International Airport via the NAIA Expressway (NAIAX). It is the first fully grade-separated highway in the Philippines and one of the longest elevated highways in the world, with a total length of approximately 39.2 kilometers (24.4 mi).
The Toll Regulatory Board is a Philippine government agency that regulates all toll roads in the Philippines.
The Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX), signed as E1 of the Philippine expressway network and R-8 of the Metro Manila arterial road network, is a controlled-access toll expressway that connects the Central Luzon region with the Ilocos Region. From its northern terminus at Rosario in La Union to its southern terminus at Tarlac City, the expressway has a length of 89.21-kilometer (55.43 mi), cutting through the various provinces in northern Central Luzon. The expressway also passes Nueva Ecija between Tarlac and Pangasinan, only that it is not included on the expressway's name because there are no exits to directly serve the province although the exits indirectly serving it are Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX)/Tarlac City, Victoria, Pura, and Anao which are located in Tarlac.
Circumferential Road 5 (C-5), informally known as the C-5 Road, is a network of roads and bridges which comprise the fifth beltway of Metro Manila in the Philippines. Spanning some 43.87 kilometers (27.26 mi), it connects the cities of Las Piñas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig, and Valenzuela.
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway (NAIAX), signed as E6 of the Philippine expressway network, is an 12.65-kilometer (7.86 mi) elevated highway in Metro Manila, Philippines, which links the Skyway to Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Entertainment City. Traversing the cities of Pasay, and Parañaque, the NAIAX runs along Andrews Avenue, Electrical Road, and NAIA Road connecting the Skyway to Ninoy Aquino Avenue, Macapagal Boulevard, New Seaside Drive and the Manila–Cavite Expressway.
The Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX), formerly referred to as the Subic–Tipo Road, Subic–Tipo Expressway and North Luzon Expressway Segment 7, is a 8.8-kilometer (5.5 mi) four-lane expressway that connects the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway to the Subic Freeport Zone in the Philippines. Its alignment traverses the provinces of Bataan and Zambales.
The Cavite–Laguna Expressway, signed as E3 of the Philippine expressway network, is a partially operational controlled-access toll expressway in the provinces of Cavite and Laguna, Philippines. The construction of the 44.63-kilometer-long (27.73 mi) expressway, which began in June 2017, costs an estimated ₱35.43 billion. Once completed, it will connect the Manila–Cavite Expressway in Kawit to the South Luzon Expressway in Biñan and is expected to ease the traffic congestion in the Cavite–Laguna area, particularly along the Aguinaldo Highway, Governor's Drive, and the Santa Rosa–Tagaytay Road.
The Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX), also known as the Central Luzon Link Freeway, is a partially operational expressway in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. It will connect the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and the Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX) to the currently under-construction North Luzon East Expressway in Cabanatuan towards San Jose, Nueva Ecija. It is currently toll-free and exclusively open to Class 1 vehicles but it will be tolled and opened to other classes of vehicles in the future.
The Muntinlupa–Cavite Expressway (MCX), signed as E2 of the Philippine expressway network, is a 4-kilometer-long (2.5 mi) controlled-access toll expressway linking the southern province of Cavite to Muntinlupa in the Philippines.
Expressway 1 (E1) forms part of the Philippine expressway network. It runs through western Luzon from Quezon City in the south to Rosario in the north.
NLEX Harbor Link, signed as E5 of the Philippine expressway network, is a four- to six-lane expressway that serves as a spur of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) linking it to the Port of Manila to the west and Quezon City to the east. It runs from Katipunan and C.P. Garcia Avenues in Quezon City to Radial Road 10 in Navotas, which in turn leads to the Port of Manila. Currently, its segment from Mindanao Avenue in Valenzuela to Navotas is operational.
Expressway 2 (E2) forms part of the Philippine expressway network. Its main route runs from Makati to Santo Tomas as South Luzon Expressway and from Santo Tomas to Batangas City as STAR Tollway. It also has spurs signed as E2 as well. South Luzon Expressway's section from Makati to Calamba, apparently as well as Skyway from Makati to Muntinlupa, is also part of AH26.
CAVITEX–C-5 Link, formerly the C-5 Southlink Expressway and signed as E2 of the Philippine expressway network, is a 7.708-kilometer (4.790-mile) controlled-access toll expressway in Metro Manila, connecting the Manila–Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) to Circumferential Road 5 (C-5) in Taguig. The project is being built at the cost of ₱15 billion, and is a joint project of the Philippine Reclamation Authority, Toll Regulatory Board, and Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation. Currently operational between Taguig up to E. Rodriguez Avenue and the segment between Parañaque Interchange up to CAVITEX Interchange in Parañaque only, the remaining segment between E. Rodriguez Avenue up to Parañaque Interchange is currently under construction.
NLEX Connector, also known as the NLEX–SLEX Connector Road, NLEX Connector Road, and NLEX Segment 11 during the planning stages, is a 7.7-kilometer (4.8 mi), four-lane elevated expressway in Metro Manila, Philippines. It connects the NLEX Harbor Link to the Metro Manila Skyway, which in turn connect to the North and South Luzon Expressways, respectively, while traversing parallel to the PNR Metro Commuter Line. The highway has five interchanges, four of which is currently operational. Alongside NLEX Harbor Link, trucks are allowed to use it.
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